Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier - the love of a lifetime

On the screen and on stage they seemed the perfect couple. But the life of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier little resemblance lyrical melodrama with a happy ending. They lived together for twenty years, filled with joint creative projects, scandals and complete the divorce process.

For twenty-two years in the life of a young English actress Vivian Mary Hartley seemed fully adjusted. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, married a serious man older than her - lawyer Herbert Leigh Holman and became the mother. However, the role of housewife beauty Vivien failed: one year after the birth of her daughter Suzanne is using an agent received a cameo role in the movie, and soon - in the theater. The play "The mask of virtue" has become a landmark for the actress for two reasons:. Firstly, signing a contract for the role, she first used the pseudonym under which he became world famous: Vivien Leigh. And secondly, after one of the evening shows to her theatrical rising "star", came backstage eminent actor Laurence Olivier have to congratulate successfully. Subsequently environment Vivienne recalls that it was love at first sight. "You'll see: I'm going to marry him," - said firmly Lee friend.

British actor and director Laurence Olivier, whose family and friends simply called Larry, too, did not remain indifferent to the fragile beauty of the dark-haired and blue eyed Vivien. Very useful both actors appeared in time invitation to shoot a new film. "Fire Over England" was the title of the picture was the beginning of a whirlwind romance, witnessed by the whole crew. Surrounding whispered: Olivier wife just gave birth to a son, a daughter Vivienne bring father and grandmother. But the lovers did not seem to notice the gossip. Soon, despite the fact that their legitimate half refused to divorce Leigh and Olivier began to live together. On the stage he put "Hamlet", where Vivian became Ophelia, struck critics refinement of his game. And after some time lover introduced Vivien Leigh with one of the most important people in her life. This man was David O. Selznick, producer of the film "Gone with the Wind".

The role of Scarlett O'Hara Vivien not only brought worldwide fame and adoration of millions of viewers. It was the first stumbling block in their relationship with Olivier. Vulnerable, like all creative people, Larry hardly worried unleashed on Lee popularity. During one of the fights actress even had to throw out the window "Oscar", prepared for the "Gone With the Wind." By the way, his second "Oscar" she propped her bedroom door, Lawrence showing that the reward for it - an empty phrase. Unfortunately, this touching gesture did not help keep the relationship with Vivienne adored Larry.

They pair Olivier was the one who allows himself to love. At the same time he did not hesitate to tell the right and left of the "disgusting" character of his wife (Vivien and Larry were married five years later after meeting). Vivienne really had fits of anger and even hysteria, but the cause of their wings in unstudied until the end of medications that the actress had been treated for tuberculosis. And she could not bear the coveted Olivier heir, several attempts have ended in miscarriage, Larry Lee also put the blame. However, in public they were still the perfect couple. Cooperative play in the masterpiece painting "Waterloo Bridge" was finally adopted by Vivien and Lawrence in the status of the favorites of the public.

1960 was a turning point in the life of Vivien Leigh. Opened her husband's affair with his partner to play "Comedians", a young actress Joan Plowright. Olivier has requested a divorce, cynically offered as compensation "Rolls-Royce" with the number of SLD - "Vivienne loves Olivier." He did not even appear in court on divorce: arranged life with a new lover, who later bore him three children awaited. And Vivien, Lady Olivier yesterday, stayed to fight the humiliating media attention and serious illness alone. She died of tuberculosis seven years after the divorce, died in his bed. On the bedside table was a photograph of Larry.